(The Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad issued the following on April 27, 2009.)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) employees will join their counterparts at Canadian Pacific and pause to honor workers who have perished or have been injured in the workplace at 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday, April 28th, the designated International Day of Mourning.
“We remember those employees who have lost their lives or suffered injury in occupational incidents in an effort to continuously strengthen our focus on workplace safety,” said DM&E President Vern Graham. “Safety is our number one priority.”
Trains across the DM&E’s 2500-mile rail network, locomotives in DM&E yards and terminals will stop at safe locations for one minute of silence followed by one lone whistle as a further salute. DM&E employees working on the road will safely park their vehicles and observe one minute of silence at the same time. Shop workers and office employees, too, will observe a minute of silence. DM&E employees are participating for the first time.
“Personal injury rates and train incidents have declined significantly in the past year as we adopt CP’s industry leading safety practices,” added Graham.
The DM&E’s personal injury frequency is 2.14 injuries per 200,000 employee hours. Personal injuries have declined 43% in the first quarter of 2009 in comparison to the first quarter of 2008. Train incidents have also declined 7% on a year over year basis.
About the DM&E Railroad:
The Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Corporation encompasses over 2,500 miles of track serving more than 200 communities in eight states. About 1,000 employees drive the system. DM&E manages over 7,000 rail cars and operates nearly 200 locomotives. Headquartered in Sioux Falls SD, the DM&E is a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP NYSE/TSX).